Legal rights

[mommygirl]

Hello,

My husband was recently ejected from my son's Little League baseball game for arguing with an umpire. A few days after the incident the local baseball Board of Directors sent him a letter stating he was no longer "welcome" to attend any games, events, etc. at the stadium. While it has been very difficult for him not to be able to watch his children play ball he has been compliant. His friend who is the Director of Recreation for the town spoke to the cities attorney and he notified her that there is no legal way for them to keep him out of the stadium as long as he "behaves". Now that the Board of Directors was informed of this the word they are spreading is that if my husband makes an appearance at the stadium, my children will no longer be permitted to play there. Is this legally possible? Is there any action we can take?

Thank you for any info you can give me.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

My husband was recently ejected from my son's Little League baseball game for arguing with an umpire. A few days after the incident the local baseball Board of Directors sent him a letter stating he was no longer "welcome" to attend any games, events, etc. at the stadium. While it has been very difficult for him not to be able to watch his children play ball he has been compliant. His friend who is the Director of Recreation for the town spoke to the cities attorney and he notified her that there is no legal way for them to keep him out of the stadium as long as he "behaves". Now that the Board of Directors was informed of this the word they are spreading is that if my husband makes an appearance at the stadium, my children will no longer be permitted to play there. Is this legally possible? Is there any action we can take?

I am sorry to hear about your problem. Without seeing the agreements you have, it's impossible to comment. I'll say this much from my experience - issues of this type are usually more about relationships than legal rights and remedies. Regardless of whether your husband can or cannot legally attend games, his presence could create a serious discomfort among others. If you force the issue, people will have resentment and perhaps retribution will manifest itself in different ways other than the direct and obvious.

Let me suggest an idea. How about apologizing / talking /negotiating with the BOD something that is reasonable or just acting in a way that will suggest a calmer situation without discussion will help. Perhaps your husband should not attend games for a short while and allow this incident to "cool off." Then after a few weeks he would return and do his best to ensure there is no commotion and let people eventually forget the incident.

Good luck with this. I know how enthusiastic one can get in a sports environment. I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie myself.

 

[CdwJava]

This happens with some frequency in youth sports everywhere. In my state, if the Little League field is an otherwise public place without a contract or property right allowing the exclusive and restricted use of the baseball field by the Little League, they could not generally prevent him from entry. They WOULD, however, generally reserve the right to remove the child from the league.

There was likely a code of conduct document he or you or the child signed that had language acknowledging that specific behavior could result in expulsion of the parent and/or the child if necessary.

Even if it IS a public place and there is no agreement signed, there is nothing that prevents the league from retaliating - or, from obtaining a restraining order (the results of which can be far more devastating than asking him to stay away).

As Lawprofessor suggested, have him address the board of directors with an apology, and, perhaps he can add language agreeing to abide by any and all conditions of behavior if he is allowed to return to the field.

Does he REALLY want to push the issue and risk further escalation? Does he really want to risk his son being removed from the league? Perhaps even risk arrest?

I wouldn't. There's not that much time left in the season, anyway.

- Carl